This book is provides a good take of a not so known part of the part. I always enjoy books that teach me about an element of history that I wouldn't have otherwise known.

Every now and then you find a book that puts your life into perspective. The Girls of Good Fortune is one such book. I don’t care how hard I think my life is at times or was it will never be as hard as Celia’s life was in the late 1800s.

Celia is half Chinese in 1888 Portland, Oregon and has passed as white in a time that being Chinese was considered threatening. After learning of her Chinese father’s gruesome and horrific death, Celia finds herself in a precarious situation. Does she ignore what she has learned about the massacre to protect her baby daughter or should she fight for justice for those who can’t?

I found myself slowly working my way through this newest release of Kristina McMorris. I wanted to feel every emotion Celia experienced. Celia was not based on a true historical figure but the massacre and the Shanghai tunnels in Oregon was very real. McMorris has always found a way to bring a piece of history to my attention I knew nothing of. So much American history was not taught in any of my schooling. A shame. This is why I love books and authors who use their voice for good.

The Girls of Good Fortune is one of those historical fiction novels that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Emotional, intense, and deeply immersive, Kristina McMorris delivers a compelling story rooted in resilience, identity, and the power of hope even in the darkest circumstances.

The prologue immediately sets the tone—chilling and mysterious. We meet Celia Hart, a woman who wakes up trapped underground with no way out and fragmented memories of how she got there. As the narrative unfolds, jumping between 1885 and 1888, the pieces of her story begin to take shape: her lineage, her strength, and the societal forces that shaped (and tried to break) her.

This is not just a story about one woman—it’s a story about family, race, survival, motherhood, and the quiet (and not-so-quiet) rebellions of women trying to live with dignity in a world that often denies them agency. McMorris has clearly done her research, and it shows in the details—from the historical backdrop to the political corruption, and the ways racism and classism quietly permeate every layer of society.

While I loved the complexity of the themes, I did find that the frequent time jumps disrupted the flow of the narrative for me early on. The story doesn't find its strongest rhythm until around chapter thirty-two when we land in June 1888 and progress forward from there. Once it steadies, though, it’s nearly impossible to put down.

A special shout-out to the author’s note at the end—it's powerful and important, offering context about the real history that inspired the book. The reading group questions are thoughtful, and the included recipes are a charming touch that makes the whole experience feel even more personal.

All in all, this book is heartbreaking but also beautiful. It offers not only a window into the past but a mirror for many of the injustices we still wrestle with today. I recommend it for fans of The Nightingale, The Book of Lost Names, or any reader looking for historical fiction with emotional weight and depth.

I really enjoy reading books that involve true events in history that are not well known. In this story, we are introduced to Celia who is half Chinese and working as a live-in nanny for a very prestigious well to do family in the 1800s. Although Celia is Chinese, she passes for white. She falls in love with the older son of the family she works for and while he is away at school, she discovers she is pregnant. The parents immediately have her leave their employment and she is sent to work and give birth in a brothel.
The story opens up with Celia drugged and bound in a Shanghai tunnel. The story goes back and forth to different points in time to share Celia's journey as forced labor on a ship, her desire to seek justice for numerous Chinese workers killed in what became known as the Hells Canyon Massacre and her search for the man she loves. I highly recommend this book and received a free eBook from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Kristina McMorris' novel, The Girls of Good Fortune, is a historical fiction work that is both informative and heartbreaking. While racism is something we are all familiar with, I did not realize its depth in our 1880s American West. There is so much happening in this book that it can be hard to follow at times, but in the end, it all comes together nicely, and you'll be glad you stuck with it.
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC ebook that I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

By the author of SOLD ON A MONDAY, which was my all time favorite by this author. This one pulls you right in and keeps you wanting more.

You meet Celia in prison at the beginning of this story. Set in the late 1800's and told from before Celia's imprisonment and after. You get to know her and how she became a prisoner. And why.

Celia is a housekeep for a very rich family in Oregon. Her and the couple's son are madly in love. Stephen has to go abroad for school but vows that he and Celia will marry when he returns. Celia holds on to that while suffering a devastating loss. Her father, a Chinese man, was killed in a slaughter at a gold mine. Celia finds out she's with child and the Bettencourt's, Stephens parents, send her away. They don't want to believe that she is truly pregnant by their son. She's half Chinese and a maid. And they are upper class and a bit snobbish.

Celia goes through so much once she has to leave. They've sent her to a brothel to be a maid and she works hard. She gives birth and ends up being taken away for a bit. She's on an adventure that no young woman needs to be on. You find out why she was put in jail and how she managed to get out. How she survived the whole ordeal and got back to her baby. Only to find her precious Pearl gone...

This book is heartbreaking and heartwarming. It deals with bigotry and hatred. Towards the Chinese. You will be rooting for Celia and Stephen to find their way back to each other. And for justice for what happened along the way.

I enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. This author did a great job of researching the time period and she left a couple of recipes at the end that sound good. I'll have to try them.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.

The Girls of Good Fortune by @kristina.mcmorris
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love reading historical fiction about the events I’m unfamiliar with - and that’s just what this book was. It was set in Portland 1888, where there was a labyrinth of the notorious Shanghai Tunnels.
If you’re looking for a story about resilience and hope in a time when it was dangerous to be a woman (let alone one of Chinese decent), then give this book a chance!

Thank you @netgalley, @kristina.mcmorris, and @bookmarked for the ARC of this book. All opinions are honest and my own.

#netgalley #goodreads #thegirlsofgoodfortune #kristinamcmorris #bookstagram #literarypearlsof25

This story had me quickly turning the pages to see what would happen next! It is historical fiction with lots of exciting adventures, which isn’t as common in this genre, at least with the books I’ve read before.
Celia works for the wealthy, influential Bettencourt family in the 1880’s and is in a secret relationship with their son, Stephen. Once he leaves to study overseas, her life takes several unexpected turns and she has immense struggles to overcome. She is heroic on many occasions and I thoroughly enjoyed her character. Actually, there were a lot of interesting characters that made this an engaging story. I was sad when it was over. The ending may have been a tad overdramatic, but it didn’t take away from the book.
Two horrible real life massacres of gold dust miners who were Chinese are included in the book. We also learn some history of Portland, Oregon from that time that was fascinating.
I’ve read two of this author’s books and I plan to read more.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for my review.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read and review this new release.

This story relates to our mistreatment of Chinese immigrants in the late 1880's. Unfortunately racism is a common thread in this nation's history, which I think is good to be aware of, and not hidden away as some would prefer. (Please excuse my political rant of the day.)

I probably put this book down more often than I should have. When I resumed reading after a break, I had a hard time reconnecting with the plot and found myself backtracking in order to understand what was going on. Having said that, I must admit the last section was an exciting adventure and saved the story for me.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read and review this new release. If you like historical fiction, I recommend this author.

I enjoyed reading this book even though there are a few inconsistencies. The main character, Celia, is very trusting of the people she encounters when she should be a bit more cautious. She is very lucky in most of the predicaments she gets caught up in and ends up better for the experience. That being said, Celia gets in predicaments that most people would not survive and she not only survives but things work out in her favor.

I love historical fiction because it gives me a glimpse into important events through compelling character POVs. The Girls of Good Fortune started off strong in that vein, opening my eyes to racial and class inequities in deeper ways through Celia’s unique struggles. Unfortunately for me, the last 1/2 or so was nonstop action, which I I found far-fetched in a way that can take away from the message. There are many people who prefer thrilling fast-paced action even so, and I hope they love this book. I am glad I read it for what I learned.

“The Girls of Good Fortune” draws attention to a crucial and often overlooked aspect of American history—the harsh treatment of Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s. Celia, a half-Chinese young woman navigating the dangers of Portland in 1888, is at the heart of a story that blends historical fiction with adventure.

The first half of the book progressed slowly, and the frequent back-and-forth between timelines was occasionally confusing. While the second half picked up with action and suspense, the tone shift—complete with disguises, sea voyages, and daring escapes—felt jarring given the seriousness of the themes.

Some plot points stretched believability, and character development felt thin. The novel does touch on the brutality and injustice faced by Chinese Americans, but it doesn't quite deliver the emotional depth needed to make those moments truly resonate.

While I appreciated the attempt to spotlight a critical historical period, I found this story less compelling than Kristina McMorris's earlier works. Still, readers who enjoy adventure-driven historical fiction might find it engaging.

Thank you to BookBrowse, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a good example of why I don't care for women's literature in the guise of historical fiction. The action vacillated between melodrama and improbable, the set piece being totally unbelievable and the romance laughable.

Portland, 1888. Amid the subterranean labyrinth of the notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival—being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment—she fears that far more than her own fate lay at stake.

As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a goldminers' massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove even more deadly than the dark recesses of Chinatown.

A captivating tale of resilience and hope, The Girls of Good Fortune explores the complexity of family and identity, the importance of stories that echo through generations, and the power of strength found beneath the surface.

I love this author! I really loved her book, Sold On A Monday and I have The Ways We Hide on my TBR.

This was a very powerful story. I love learning about a time period that I didn't know anything about That's why I love
historical fiction novels. You can tell that the author did a lot of research on this book. She is a great storyteller. I thought that this was very entertaining and a great adventure. This book is heartbreaking and tormenting. This was such a sad time in our history. I love reading historical fiction so that our history will not be forgotten.

My favorite character was Celia. I felt so sorry for her. She awakes in an underground cell drugged and disguised. Celia then realizes that she is a shanghaied victim on the verge of being shipped off, as forced labor leaving behind those she loves most. She is abducted and wants to get her memory back. She was dressed like a man. Celia is a little naive and too trusting but very brave. She fights for what she feels is right. She is very kind. She is half Chinese passing as white .

I love the ending and thought it was heartwarming.

I want to thank Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available Now!

Courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley, I received the ARC of The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris, a well researched historical novel set in Portland in the 1880's. With outstanding characters, this story focuses on the racism towards the Chinese population of that era, including mixed race families. I loved the resilience and strength of Celia as she searched for justice and redemption after learning of the massacre of Chinese gold miners. By being "shanghaied", her determination and strength emerges, as she meets many people in her travels and determines the true nature of relationships and family. Highly recommend!

The Girls of Good Fortune was a really good read until I got a bit confused. Celia was living her life with her daughter, Pearl, until all of minute she was on a ship, kidnapped. That in itself was harrowing! She finally, with the help of a man named Owen, escapes...she finds her way onto a train, hobo style, and gets back to her home of Portland. The fear behind this entire adventure that she never asked for, was where was her daughter. There is also the father, of her child, whom she loved and had not seen in 3 years. His parents are bigots and racists against people of Chinese descent.. This book takes place in the late 1800"s when America was built on the backs of Chinese workers, out west, Ms. McMorris writes about a time in American history that reeks of racism and hate...she even describes the murder of 30 Chinese people who were gold seekers. This is an important book because of its history which is based on fact. Highly recommended reading....educate yourself!

Thank you to NetGalley for Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris in exchange for a honest review.This is a gripping and harrowing tale of Celia Hart, a half -Chinese servant who is in love with Stephen Bettincourt, the master of the house’s son .The story is set in Portland, Oregon.from 1885-1888.After a night of passion, Celia finds herself pregnant soon after Stephen leaves for university in England.She promptly finds herself kicked out of the house and forced to live in a brothel where she delivers her daughter Pearl.When she hears of her father’, a gold miner’s, death, she yearns to seek justice for him.Told over a period of 3 years , this is a story of a independent and strong and courageous woman who suffers many setbacks at a time when half-Chinese women were not respected.This was a very informative story since I was unaware of many of the historical events in this book.

What an incredibly well written and researched book. It explores a topic that I have read (and learned!) very little about - the anti-chinese movement that took place in Portland in the late 1800s. The story is told from Cecilia's perspective, a few years apart. Both stories are heartbreaking and wonderful. The two timelines are clear and well written - no confusion as to which time it was. Cecilia was a maid in the mayor's house until she was impregnated by their son. She is then a half Chinese woman raising her child on her own. When she finds herself in the Shanghai tunnels, she fears that she will become forced labor. She must do her best to escape to save her child. A wonderfully written story about a difficult time. The story is emotional and it was easy to feel for Cecilia and the tragedy that she faces. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a fascinating and heartbreak topic that everyone should read about.
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark, RB Media, and Netgalley for the ARC!

Did someone cut onions while I read this book?

When this book started, I was pretty sure I knew where it was headed. I thought it would be the same old story, girl falls in love with rich boy, he lies, her life is ruined. But NOPE! It was so much more.

This was a book about learning to check one's biases, about the pain and racism that Asian immigrants had to deal with as a result of American xenophobia, the strength of sisterhood and friends, and the beauty of motherhood. Celia had to learn how strong she is when forced not just to deal with the dangers of being an unwed mother but also part Chinese. Her life was filled with challenges, dangers, and joys, and I loved how McMorris wove this story. I really recommend this book, especially after COVID and the hatred that Asian communities have continued to face.

It was okay. I just didn't really enjoy the story. It was so far-fetched and melodramatic. I don't really have anything else to say about it.